# Core C: Imaging Tumor Heterogeneity and Metabolism Core (ITHM)

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2024 · $241,962

## Abstract

IMAGING TUMOR HETEROGENEITY & METABOLISM CORE: PROJECT ABSTRACT
The purpose of the Imaging Tumor Heterogeneity & Metabolism Core is to provide to all Projects of the P01 with
the high degree of research and clinical imaging support required, apply advanced imaging methods and novel
data analysis procedures to facilitate the collection of image-guided tissue samples during surgical resection,
and providing metabolic and physiologic imaging correlates of gene expression that describe intra- and inter-
tumor heterogeneity in patients with glioblastoma and meningioma. Core functions will include the development
of new methods and the translation and maintenance of technologies developed in the Projects from the prior
and upcoming cycles into the clinic. The Core will comprise experienced investigators with broad expertise and
a proven track record in working together, as well as with their collaborators.
There are four major aims: (1) To translate the advanced MR data acquisition protocols and pulse sequences
developed in the current and prior cycles of the P01 from research to clinical scanners and to provide ongoing
maintenance for them in order to accommodate changes in clinical practice, as well as updates to the scanner
hardware or software. (2) To develop and maintain post-processing capabilities for analysis, visualization and
interpretation of the multi-parametric and multi-dimensional imaging examinations used in Projects 1, 2 and 4
with a special emphasis on providing consistent and reliable metrics to describe tumor heterogeneity, evolution,
and spatial extent. (3) To support the acquisition and analysis of pre-surgery imaging data, the selection of
targets of interest and the collection of image guided tissue samples from patients with GBM and meningioma
so that tumor heterogeneity can be studied in the context of imaging, histological, and genomic properties as
required in Projects 1 and 2, and validation of abnormal metabolism (Project 4). (4) To incorporate novel
hyperpolarized dynamic [1-13C] pyruvate (and later [1-13C] alanine) imaging acquisition, processing, and
quantitative analysis pipelines developed in Project 4 that will facilitate the integration of metrics of dynamic
metabolism into guiding the prospective collection of metabolically diverse tissue samples for analyses of intra-
and inter- tumor heterogeneity described in Projects 1 and 2.
Upon completion of the proposed P01 cycle, the developments proposed in this Core will provide the required
tools to acquire, analyze, visualize, and interpret relationships between advanced metabolic and physiologic
imaging features and underlying tumor biology of spatially mapped tissue samples. The methods developed will
create the required framework to support spatial analyses relating imaging phenotypes to underlying genomic
drivers of intra- and inter-patient heterogeneity and corresponding histopathology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10934269
- **Project number:** 2P01CA118816-16
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Janine Marie Lupo
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $241,962
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2007-07-01 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10934269

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10934269, Core C: Imaging Tumor Heterogeneity and Metabolism Core (ITHM) (2P01CA118816-16). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10934269. Licensed CC0.

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